City adopts resolution to reverse shift in Brunswick MSA

The Wilmington City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution asking federal officials to return Brunswick to Wilmington's metropolitan area.

By Julian MarchJulian.March@StarNewsOnline.com

The Wilmington City Council wants the federal government to reverse a recent change that designated Brunswick County as part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area.On Tuesday night, the council voted unanimously to pass a resolution asking federal officials to return Brunswick County to Wilmington's metropolitan area.After the 2010 Census, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget realigned the nation's metro areas, also called metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs. The Census Bureau uses MSAs to calculate population, income and demographics for a specific geographic area. "This is a kick in the gut if we don't do anything about it," said Councilwoman Laura Padgett. Mayor Bill Saffo said major companies, such as Trader Joe's or Whole Foods, that are interested in opening in a community look at MSAs.On Monday, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution requesting that it be removed from the Myrtle Beach MSA. New Hanover County Commissioners are also expected to vote on a resolution similar to the one the Wilmington City Council considered. At a Monday agenda briefing, Saffo said the city received a letter from the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce asking for the resolution.Connie Majure-Rhett, the CEO of the chamber, has said the swap hurts the Port City because it makes the area look smaller on paper. Padgett has said the change could cost the area money.On Monday, city Development Services Director Glenn Harbeck said he was baffled by the decision as it seemed to fly in the face of the Census Bureau's own definition of an MSA, which alludes to commuting patterns. In recent years, 83 percent of Brunswick County residents who commute for work traveled to New Hanover County, while only 17 percent of Brunswick commuters crossed the state line into Horry County, according to the city. "The commuting patterns are undeniable," Harbeck said Monday. "They're hard facts that are difficult to refute."Saffo said local officials need to ask the federal delegation for assistance. City Manager Sterling Cheatham told the council that the city attorney's office also would proceed with a formal appeals process through the federal Office of Management and Budget. U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre has already called the decision "unfortunate" and said he is doing all he can to reverse it. In a separate action, the council also voted unanimously to declare a 1990 John Deere 970 tractor as surplus property and donate the tractor to First Fruit Ministries, an area nonprofit.The city accepts requests from nonprofit agencies that want surplus city equipment. First Fruit Ministries will use the tractor to harvest fresh produce from a community garden for low- to moderate-income families, according to the city.